Step by Step

Aside from cleaning the bathroom, organizing a space at home that has gotten out of hand may be the most unappealing chore. Even Type A people can find the task daunting, at first, and draining in the end.

“If you feel really overwhelmed by a project, break it down,” says Stacey Platt, a New York-based professional organizer and author of “What’s a Disorganized Person to Do?” (Artisan Books, 2010). Organizing even one drawer a day as a process within a bigger project can offer a great sense of accomplishment.

“Thinking about the process of how you use [a] space is the best way to figure out how to organize it,” explains Linsi Brownson, an interior designer with Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Brownson Design Group. It’s important to consider function at the start of any project.

Once the function of the space is settled, gather an assortment of storage containers and label them according to destination: trash, charity, everyday use, etc. “If you can commit to some initial time up front to put systems in place, it’s going to save so much time in the long run,” Platt says.

Depending on the space, another great initial step could be first clearing the area.“We get so used to the visual clutter,” Platt says. “If you start with a blank canvas, it’s like clearing your mind. You can see the possibility of the space.” Brownson suggests moving objects into categories within the space if a “blank canvas” isn’t an option.